MOH to cease haze subsidy scheme from Nov 23 as dry season ends

SINGAPORE — With the arrival of rain and a low likelihood of haze for the rest of the year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will end its Haze Subsidy Scheme from next Monday (Nov 23).

About 50,000 claims have been made under the scheme since it was reintroduced in September when hazy conditions persisted, the MOH said in a statement today (Nov 16).

The scheme was first introduced in 2013 when the haze hit record levels. It’s designed to help reduce medical costs for haze-related conditions, such as asthma, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis, for children, elderly and lower- and middle-income groups of Singaporeans.

Under the scheme, pioneers only pay S$5 while other eligible Singaporeans pay S$10 at participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics and polyclinics for haze-related conditions. The MOH subsidises the remaining costs. Public Assistance cardholders get fully subsidised care.

More than 630 PHPCs have participated in the scheme. The number of claims so far is a preliminary estimate as participating clinics have up to one month after the cessation of the scheme to submit their claims to MOH.

The National Environment Agency said yesterday that the haze episode that has afflicted Singapore for a prolonged period this year is likely to be over, while more rain can be expected, in the coming weeks with the onset of the north-east monsoon.